Swaziland

Almost one in three people do not have clean water and nearly half have nowhere to go to the toilet.

Sara Atkins

Swaziland

Capital:

Mbabane

Population:

1.3 million

Area:

17,364

km2

Surrounded on three sides by South Africa and bordering Mozambique to the east, Swaziland is a small country with a population of around 1.3 million people. In its mountains, valleys, savannah and jungle, four distinct climates shape people’s lives.

Almost one in three people do not have clean water and two in five have nowhere to go to the toilet. This situation has a big impact on health and contributes to an average national life expectancy of just 49 years.

Swaziland also has the world's highest proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS – almost a third of the population. They are extremely vulnerable to diarrhoeal diseases caused by a lack of toilets and hygiene, and need clean water for medication to be effective.

1 in every 3 people don't have clean water.

That's 417,000 people in total.

540,000 people don't have a decent toilet.

That's 2 in every 5 people in the country.

Over 200 children under 5 die a year from diarrhoea.

Caused by dirty water and poor toilets.

We collaborate closely with local communities to introduce simple, low-cost technologies and solutions. This ensures the poorest people are able to use and maintain water points and toilets themselves, and that their needs – especially those of people with HIV/AIDS – are met.

We share our research with local partners and the Government, helping decision-makers recognise the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene for Swaziland and its people. Together, we will bring lasting change to what's normal for everyone in the country.

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